This is an online lecture for first year biology undergraduates at the University of Wollongong. It was originally a Powerpoint Lecture that was converted to the online format using Articulate Presenter which is a plugin for PowerPoint.

This page is an overview of the sceince projects that I was involved with on our January 2015 trip to King George Island with INACH, the Chilean Antarctic Program. I was working with two Chilean scientists on this trip -

In January of 2015 I went down to Chile's Escudero Base on King George Island with the Chilean Antarctic Program - INASCH. I was working with Angélica Casanova Katny of the Universidad de Concepción and Professor Gustavo Zuniger from Santiago University. My partner Andrew Netherwood accompanied us as the expedition photographer on this trip and most of the photos you see on this page are taken by him.

This page is mostly about King George Island and Escudero Base where we stayed. For the science projects that we were attempting to accomplish see this page.

Antarctic Plants and Global Change

An Overview of my Antarctic Research Projects

Since plant growth in Antarctica is very slow, we use a range of molecular and physiological techniques to predict how terrestrial biodiversity in Antarctica will change as a result of climate change.

Our work is providing important insights into the biology of these plants that survive and grow in conditions equivalent to a freezer. Our research provides evidence that the Antarctic endemic moss Grimmia antarctici is likely to be more susceptible to climate change than two co-occurring cosmopolitan species Ceratodon purpureus and Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Robinson et al 2005 PDF 681k, Wasley et al 2006a, b).

L.I.F.T Laser Induced Fluorescence transients

Plant Stress Ecophysiology

Using chlorophyll fluorescence to investigate plant stress

Physiological techniques can help to answer many questions in ecology, conservation biology and agriculture. These research areas involve collaboration with colleagues at Wollongong (weed ecophysiology - Kris French, Mangroves and salt marshes - Todd Minchinton) and around Australia (Phylloxera DPI Victoria and CSIRO Land and Water).

Plants and extreme events

Brief History

I was born in London but did most of my growing up on the North Coast of Cornwall. I moved back to London to study Genetics & Botany at University College London and graduated with a First Class Honours Degree. I then worked for two years in student poltics, first at UCL as a Sabbatical Officer and President of UCL Student's Union concerned with student welfare, and then as an Executive Officer of the UK National Union of Students. In 1986 I completed a Graduate Certificate in in Science Education at Kings College London and then returned to UCL in 1987 to start a PhD with George Stewart on "Nitrogen metabolism in carrot cell cultures" which I completed in 1990.

Professional Experience

2010 - present

Professor, Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong

2009-

Deputy Director, Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, The University of Wollongong

2007

Visiting Professor, University of Vienna

2005 - 2008

Director, Institute for Conservation Biology and Law, The University of Wollongong

2004- 2010

Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong

2000 - 2005

Head of Postgraduate Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong